Friday, 30 May 2008

The 16th Improving Student Learning (ISL) international conference will be held on 1-3 September 2008University of Durham, Durham, UK

We hope that the theme for this symposium – “through the curriculum” – will challenge contributors to consider the role of course design in improving student learning in the ‘taught’ curriculum as well as the effects of the wider, ‘hidden’ curriculum.

Wednesday, 21 May 2008

This one-day conference will explore recent developments in web-based resources in order to enhance the provision of PBL for students and their facilitators.

Enquiries &amp; Booking Details:

Liz Kelly

Faculty of Health BDU

University of Central Lancashire

Preston

PR1 2HE

Telephone 01772 893809

Fax 01772 892995

Email ejkelly@uclan.ac.uk

www.uclan.ac.uk/healthconf

This conference will be held at the University of Central Lancashire. It will be based around recent developments in relation to web-based resources to support problem-based learning. The successful Students Online in Nursing Integrated Curricula (SONIC) website (which has been extended) and the Virtual Community Website have come together to demonstrate new, and innovative, resources. These resources will influence students in the future by supporting them in what they learn and how they learn.

The websites address fundamental issues in learning and teaching, including:

v Learning is becoming more student-centred, but how can students' new independence be supported by richer, more interactive learning materials?

v How can we encourage students to appreciate and engage with care providers, other than traditional care givers?

The SONIC website addresses the first of these questions by using a variety of resources, such as animations and/or videos within scenarios to support a problem-based learning approach. The Virtual Voluntary Sector website addresses the second question by creating an online resource for students to identify and enhance their understanding of non-traditional care provision and how this will enrich their learning.

The conference programme consists of three keynote speakers and participants to the conference will also be able to view and discuss the resources and observe how these can support students.

By the end of the conference, the participant will have:

1) Been made aware of the successful outcomes of web-based projects.

2) Observed the use of the resources which have been developed.

3) Discussed how the resources may be used in a variety of curricula.

4) Determined the use of the resources in supporting national agendas such as Widening Participation and Personal Development Planning.

Developing Problem Based e-Learning From Passive to Dynamic e-Learning09:30 - 16:15 Wednesday 9 July 2008Main Building, Library,Institute of Education, University of London

Fed up with passive, page turning e-learning? Engage your learners in active, dynamic, enquiry based e-learning by developing realistic problem solving activities that encourage the application of analytical, creative and critical thinking skills.Topics: * Whats the problem? Analysisng problem based e-learning * Web quests, hot lists, treasure hunts and subject samplers defined * Action planning and Scenario building for problem based e-learning * Resource gathering to underpin learning * Tools for rapid development of online problem based e-learningWho is it for?This workshop is essential for anyone involved in the design, development, delivery or support of e-learning.Participants should be familiar with the use of a computer keyboard and mouse, Microsoft Windows based products and the use of a web browser such as Firefox or Internet Explorer. An awareness of the basic concepts of web-based delivery would be useful.Further details about this workshop are available.

- Middlesex University Learning and Teaching Conference - We invite colleagues to join us for our 8th Annual Learning and TeachingConference on 1 July at our Hendon Campus, North London. The title of our2008 conference is Reshaping Education. The keynote speakers will be SandyGilkes, Head of the Centre for Academic Practice at the University ofNorthampton and Professor Mike Neary, Director of the Centre forEducational Research and Development and Dean of Teaching and Learning atthe University of Lincoln.Sandy's session is titled 'Knowledge is not the only fruit: changing rolesand perceptions in HE.' Mike will talk on 'The student as producer - re-inventing the student experience in HE'.Full details of the conference and a booking form can be found athttp://olsu/mdx.ac.uk/reshaping/index.htm.Colleagues reserving a place should contact Kasia Bate (k.bate@mdx.ac.uk)in order to arrange payment. The charge for the day, to includerefreshments and lunch, is £35.Michelle HaynesCentre for Learning and Quality EnhancementMiddlesex University

Monday, 19 May 2008

There are still some places left for the twelfth Writing Development in Higher Education conference to be held at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow from 25 to 27 June, but bookings close on 23 May.

Thursday, 1 May 2008

Inquiry in a Networked World Conference - Learning Through Inquiry Alliance (LTEA) Conference 2008: Inquiry in aNetworkedWorld University of Sheffield,25th - 27th June 2008.

Registration is open for LTEA 2008 and the programme of parallel sessions isnowavailable.

The LTEA is a collaborative alliance of Centres for Excellence in TeachingandLearning with interests in inquiry and research-based learning. This yearitsannual conference is hosted by CILASS, the University of Sheffield's CentreforInquiry-based Learning in the Arts and Social Sciences. Building onsuccessful events held previously at the University of Surrey (2007) and theUniversity of Manchester (2006) we aim to continue in 2008 to provide afocusfor creative and critical exploration of inquiry-based learning, focusing ondevelopments in practice and theory, and on the role of the inquiry approachtolearning and teaching in HE in the UK and beyond.

Conference highlights include:

* Forty-five parallel sessions, plus posters, exploring the design,facilitation, experience and impact of inquiry-based learning across a widerange of disciplines, with staff and student contributors from 20+institutions(LTEA member institutions and others).

* Keynote by Dr David Hodge, President of Miami University, Ohio. Dr Hodge´saddress will explore the concept of "the student as scholar" and presentinstitution-wide inquiry-based learning initiatives being taken forwardunderhis leadership at Miami University.